Focus Our Relationship With God

These are my notes from Mateen Elass’ sermon today on August 11, 2013.

God calls us to focus not on the things of this world, but on our relationship with God.

Then he told them a story: â€œA rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, â€˜What should I do? I donâ€™t have room for all my crops.â€™ Then he said, â€˜I know! Iâ€™ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then Iâ€™ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And Iâ€™ll sit back and say to myself, â€œMy friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!â€â€™ â€œBut God said to him, â€˜You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?â€™ â€œYes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.â€ (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)

The average house size has grown immensely for average US citizens the past few decades, at the same time storage rental facilities have boomed in popularity to store all our stuff.

No where in this story from Jesus do we see or hear the rich man mentioning God or talking with God. The man seeks advice and wisdom from himself, and “says to his soul” (the transcendent / eternal part of his life) to take it easy.

Some millionaires today have actually set up trust funds for themselves so they will have those funds when they are brought back to life hundreds of years in the future.

If you are consumed by your work, you may neglect your family, your health, and your relationship with God. We study the Bible so we will desire the things God desires. The world, however, speaks with a megaphone and says otherwise: The world tells us to focus on consumption and ourselves.